Tocotrienols: What You Need to Know About This Vitamin E Chemical
VITAMIN E IS NECESSARY for the proper functioning of our bodies and our brain. I recently wrote about vitamin E, and an astute reader wondered whether a component of vitamin E might have efficacy. Tocotrienols are chemicals in the vitamin E family and are the focus of our conversation today. We begin with some basics before pivoting to the potential health benefits of tocotrienols.
What’s in vitamin E? This essential nutrient includes tocotrienols and tocopherols. While tocotrienols and tocopherols are similar in chemistry, the former has a structure with so-called double bonds.
You may find tocotrienols in crude palm oil, rice bran, oats, barley, annatto, and rye. On the other hand, Tocopherols are found mainly in vegetable oils (such as olive, sunflower, safflower oils, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables).
Given the antioxidant properties of tocopherol and tocotrienol, could they help with inflammation, serve as anti-cancer agents, help us age more gracefully, or have other health benefits? Today we focus on tocotrienols.
